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Workplace Motor Vehicle Hazards & OSHA Standards

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OSHA regulates motor vehicle safety in the workplace and requires employers to conduct weekly maintenance checks, enforce safety policies like seatbelt usage, and provide driver training programs focused on managing fatigue. Employers must also maintain accurate records of employee licenses and driving histories. The goal is to prevent injuries from the leading cause of work-related deaths - motor vehicles, which accounted for over 4,800 fatalities in 2015, with 28% from semi-trucks and 24% from automobiles.

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Workplace Motor Vehicle Hazards & OSHA Standards

Uploaded by

john sinny
53 views4 pages
OSHA regulates motor vehicle safety in the workplace and requires employers to conduct weekly maintenance checks, enforce safety policies like seatbelt usage, and provide driver training programs focused on managing fatigue. Employers must also maintain accurate records of employee licenses and driving histories. The goal is to prevent injuries from the leading cause of work-related deaths - motor vehicles, which accounted for over 4,800 fatalities in 2015, with 28% from semi-trucks and 24% from automobiles.

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Workplace Motor Vehicle Hazards & OSHA Standards _ Study.com

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OSHA regulates motor vehicle safety in the workplace and requires employers to conduct weekly maintenance checks, enforce safety policies like seatbelt usage, and provide driver training programs focused on managing fatigue. Employers must also maintain accurate records of employee licenses and driving histories. The goal is to prevent injuries from the leading cause of work-related deaths - motor vehicles, which accounted for over 4,800 fatalities in 2015, with 28% from semi-trucks and 24% from automobiles.

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53 views4 pages

Workplace Motor Vehicle Hazards & OSHA Standards

Uploaded by

john sinny
OSHA regulates motor vehicle safety in the workplace and requires employers to conduct weekly maintenance checks, enforce safety policies like seatbelt usage, and provide driver training programs focused on managing fatigue. Employers must also maintain accurate records of employee licenses and driving histories. The goal is to prevent injuries from the leading cause of work-related deaths - motor vehicles, which accounted for over 4,800 fatalities in 2015, with 28% from semi-trucks and 24% from automobiles.

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Workplace Motor Vehicle Hazards & OSHA Standards

This lesson discusses the hazards and risks of occupational injuries and fatalities that result from using motor
vehicles in the workplace. We'll talk about OSHA requirements for the operation of these motor vehicles.

Cooper and Cooper Transportation Systems


You are the owner of Cooper and Cooper Transportation Systems, a company responsible for
transporting highly confidential documents from one corporation to another. You recently
found out that two of your employees have been caught driving vehicles that need repairs.

This is becoming a huge problem that costs your company a lot of money. Something is not
working with your current employee training. You are not on a mission to find out from OSHA
how you can improve motor-vehicle training with your employees.

OSHA Overview
You attend a Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) training course on using
motor vehicles in the workplace. You learn that in 2015 there were over 4,800 work-related
fatalities, of which over a quarter were roadway related. 750 of which were fatal tractor-trailer
driving injuries.

OSHA regulates most private sector employees when it comes to motor vehicle safety within the
workplace. However, OSHA cannot be everywhere.

Therefore, OSHA has partnered with 28 state entities to ensure that all employers offer job
approved safety and health programs, as well as training programs in all 50 states. States must
set safety standards that are at least as effective as OSHA standards, if not stronger.

OSHA Maintenance and Safety Requirements


You've learned from OSHA that to maintain the safety of all employees operating company
vehicles you must keep all vehicles in great operating conditions. OSHA requires weekly
maintenance checks to make sure they're in safe operating conditions and free of damage.
Vehicle maintenance checks are required by OSHA

Areas to check are:

brakes, including trailer brake connections, handbrakes and emergency brakes

tires, horns, lights, reflectors, wipers, defrosters, and or fire extinguishers

steering system, coupling devices

operating controls, safety devices, as well as seat belts

Any defects found must be corrected before the vehicle can be placed back into service.

Workplace Vehicle Safety - On the Road


Millions of workers use motor vehicles every day, which may be why motor vehicles are the
leading cause of work-related deaths. Semi-trucks had the most fatalities at 28% over
automobiles at 24% and pickup trucks at 12%.

Fatigue is a major cause of highway injuries

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that 33% of the fatalities occurring
with company vehicles were caused by fatigue, alcohol, drugs, and other medical issues. Fatigue
was the number one cause of death while operating motor vehicles.

A research study was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) between 1992 & 2001. It determined that of crashes using company vehicles:

49% happened between vehicles

53% occurred between 7 am and 4pm

38% occurred on U.S. and state highways

89% of fatalities were male, and

the risk of fatalities increased at age 55 and older

Strategies for Injury Prevention


Strategies for Injury Prevention
Of course, unlike the normal workplace-situation, the highway is not a closed environment.

To help prevent work-related accidents or injuries on the highway, you have decided to
implement specific training strategies. One of OSHA State Partners, the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), has identified strategic training steps for employers to
follow. These steps can help to protect the employer and their company.

Employers should enforce seat belts and valid driver's licenses, and develop a training plan
to teach 'How to Manage Fatigue While Driving on the Job.'

They should also provide company vehicles that have the highest safety protection, as well as
require employees to receive the necessary training to operate them. Employees should only
drive during regular work hours to avoid burn-out and fatigue.

Helpful rules might include:

obey all driving laws policy

a NO cell phone use clause while using company vehicles

a NO distraction policy that will limit eating, drinking and other distractions while operating a
company vehicle.

Maintaining Driving Records


It's also important to maintain accurate employee driving records. Make copies of driver's
licenses and make sure they include clearance for the type of vehicle they'll be driving. Also
make copies of background driving checks conducted on all current or potential employees.
These checks must be done each year.

Lesson Summary
There are many hazards and risks of using motor vehicles in the workplace. In 2015, a quarter of
work-related deaths were roadway related. Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) requires weekly maintenance checks to make sure they're in safe operating
conditions and free of damage.

To help prevent work-related accidents or injuries on the highway, strategies include enforcing
seat belts and driver's licenses, as well as developing a training plan to teach about dealing
with fatigue. Vehicles should have the highest safety protection, and employees be trained to
operate them. Employees should only drive during regular work hours to avoid burn-out and
fatigue.

Require employees to obey all driving laws, and implement a NO cell phones and NO distraction
(eating/drinking) rule.

Maintain accurate employee driving records like making copies of driver's licenses and
background driving checks yearly.
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